What are effective ways to share my views with policymakers?
Lawmakers are most likely to listen to their own constituents, so it can be helpful to focus on your own elected officials.
CALL: The most effective way to share your views with elected officials is often to pick up the phone and call. Be polite to the staffer answering the phone, and have a clear and concise message ready. If you are nervous or worried about forgetting key points, jot down a few notes beforehand. If you call the local or district office, you may have the best luck getting a human on the phone.
VISIT: If it’s not too far away, dropping into the office or showing up at a town hall meeting is a good way to meet the elected official or a staffer face-to-face.
WRITE: Emails or letters may be less likely to produce personalized responses, but they can be an effective way to make yourself heard, especially if you identify as a constituent of that official.
CLICK: Most elected officials keep profiles on social media sites, like Twitter or Facebook. Following and commenting on posts can be useful.
To contact your elected officials, try using these tools:
Resistbot: This app lets you quickly write to your state or congressional lawmakers via text message.
Texas Legislature Online: This website has phone and office location for Texas lawmakers, as well as information on proposed bills and meetings and detailed maps of the Texas Capitol.